Tread for wheels.



Patented May 20, |902. W. L. JUDSN.V

TREAD FR WHEELS. I (Applicaton mea sept. 21, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modal.)

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(Application med sep. 21. 1901.;

Z'Sheets--Sheet 2` '(No Model.)

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- -gpanying drawings,wlierein like characters indicate like y To all whom :Jamal/concern:

' y UNITED STATES] WHITCOMB L. JUDSON,

,lA-Tnivr`v OFFICE. v

or CHICAGO, iLLi'Nois vTRE/io FoawH EELS.

sPEcrrioA'rIoN forming para of Letters-Partanna 700,533', dated May 2o, 1902. i lApplicativi; filed-September 21,1901. -Seral No. 76,015.1(No modell) provements in Treads for Wheels; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact descriptionof the invention, such y as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and u'sethe same.

` Y Mypresentinvention has for its especial object to provide an improved tread lfor traction-WheelsV and other Wheels whereby they `are adapted to tra-velifoverdeserts or other '15 Y To the above ends `th'e, invention consists f of thenovel devices and'combinations` of de- Avices hereinafter describedfand definedv in' 'a as lthe claims.

The invention is .illustrated in the accom'.-4

parts` throughout the`several views. H

Figure 1l Vis a view in `side :elevation with some parts broken away, showinga' -wheel designed in accordance Withim'y finvention.

Fig'. 2 is 'al horizontal sectionon the line m2' of Fig. lwith the shoes andother removable stripped of thevsho'ejs.'v Fig.r1 4: is a transverse r sectiononthe line :124'A of Fig. 1.

parts of the wheel removed from Workin g position'. Fig. 3 is a'plan viewofy the wheel a transverse section on theline fiof Fig; l,

y i y andA Fig. 6 is aplan viewof-on'e of the shoes Y which is provided Withgla-perip'herel.'faceZ, having broken or sectioned peripheral flanges' removed from working position.A y v The` numeral 1 indicates' the'wheelproper,

3.v :The sections ofthe two peripheral flanges 3 are in staggered arrangement, and between the abutting ends of said sections said face 2 is provided with perforationsl o r bolt-seats 4. Said Wheel'l isals'o'shown as provided with reinforcingY-ribs 5, which connect theface 2 with the hub 6 of said wheel.

- To provide for both transverse rocking movements and longitudinal rolling movements, the shoes-are formed in two sections 7 and 8, which have i'nterlapping pivotal hingelugs connected by hingebolts 9. As best shown in Figsrflv and .5, 'the shoe-sections 7 Aand8 are given clearance`,-as at 10, so that said sections 8,' Which'are thejground-engagf 'ingsections`, are free for transverserocking 1 4 -movements. Thev shoe-sections 7 are provided with 1ongitudinallyextended channels 11, which "receive and closely engage the sections ofthe shoe-guiding flanges 3 4'of'the -v Wheel. The central portion of each shoe stands inline withfonezof 'the perforationsfl in the wheel-facci. A shoe-retaining bolt 12 ispassed through each perforation 4, and the Y vouter endthereofis'pivotedat-l to the in` cushion 15, of 'rubber,'leather, or similar inalterial, which serves'to Vprevent the said nuts 15y fromstrikingthe'face or :peripheral portionsof the wheel, and-'5 thereby producing av clatter when the wheel vis -in motion. The

- nuts 514 are so adjusted that the inner surfaces of the shoe-sectionsl 7'are free for roll-p ing engagement withthelwheel-face 2 Vunder the movement of the wheel withoutthrowing strains on they said nutsand bolts.V i To hold the shoes against endwise slipping or sliding movement on the faceof the wheel and to insure a rolling engagementtherewith* as distinguished from a pivotal kor slipping `movement, each shoe is secured to the periphery ofthe wheel by a pair of reverselyextendingexible connections 16, preferably afforded byr shortA sectionsof wire cableV or` ropes yThe.ou'te'raendsLof these cables are `connected.inpairsto'the opposite free ends of thejshoe-'setins7,`and the inner ends l chorbolts 17 ,passed through the wheel anges thereof arepassedthrough the peripheryor or ribs 5 and Aprovided with tighteninglniits 18,. By means of these adjustable,a'n'chor-,v

bolts 17 and nuts 18 the cableslfmay always be kept taut regardless of their natural tendency tofstretch. The intermediate'portions of the cables 16, as will most clearly appear by reference to Figs. 4 and 5, work in copyerating guide-channels 19 and 20, formed,re

IOO

spectively, in the wheel-face 2 and in the contacting faces of the shoe-sections 7.

It will be noted that the ground-engaging faces of the shoe-sections 8 are curved longitudinally. This is very desirable, as it facilitates the turning of the wheel in the steering action. In other words, with a wheel, say, forty inches in diameter a running-face equivalent to that of a wheel approximately sixteen feet in diameter may be provided. The rim-engaging surfaces of the shoe-sections 7 are advisably struck concentric with the ground-engaging surfaces of the corresponding shoe-sections S. This provides shoes which are of the same thickness from end to end, and thus prevents the axis of the wheel from being given an undulatory or vertically rising and falling movement in running from one shoe to the other.

In virtue of the staggered arrangement of the shoes three thereof are always held in contact with the ground. The shoes mounted as above described have rolling engagements with the periphery of the wheel and do not and cannot slip with respect thereto. It is evident that this is an important feature, inasmuch as even the slightest slipping movement would result in a great waste of power. It is also evident that the action obtained with the shoes mounted as described is very different from that obtained by shoes simply mounted on pivots. The applicants device simply uses the shoes as track-sections, which it lays down one after the other, to afford track over which the wheel proper is run very much in the same manner as if a permanent track were laid therefor.

As the point of contact between the wheelface and the shoes constantly changes, any sand or dirt caught between the same is given all possible chance to escape, and, in fact, the sand is positively worked out from between the said parts under the movement of the wheel. The eXible connections 16 permit the shoes to separate slightly from the face of the wheel to clear sand or other material caught between the same.

The shoe-sections S are adapted to rock transversely of the wheel whenever they strike a rock or other irregularity in the roadbed, and thereby relieve the said shoes and the Wheel from abnormal strain, which would otherwise be thrown upon the same.

This wheel was especially designed for use on ore-wagons for carrying heavy loads across deserts or sandy country, but is adapted for general use either as a traction-wheel or as a wheel for vehicles which are to be drawn by animal or other power.

The invention is of course capable of considerable modification within the scope of my invention.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. The combination with a wheel, of a tread flexible connections attached at their inner ends to the said wheel, following the periphery thereof at their intermediate portion and attached at their outer ends to the opposite free ends of said shoes, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a wheel having a peripheral shoe-guiding fiange, of a series of shoes mounted for rolling engagement with the periphery of said wheel and guided by said flange, and reversely-extending pairs of flexible connections attached at their inner ends to said wheel, following the periphery thereof at their intermediate portions and attached at their outer ends to the opposite free ends of said shoes, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a wheel, of a series of shoes having rolling engagement with the periphery of said wheel, loosely-pivoted retaining-bolts connecting the central portions of said shoes to the periphery of said wheel with freedom for rocking movements, and reversely-extending pairs of iiexible connections attached at their inner ends to said wheel, following the periphery ythereof at their intermediate portions and attached at their outer ends to the opposite free ends of said shoes, substantially as described.

i. The combination with a wheel having a peripheral shoe-guiding iiange, of a series of shoes having rolling engagement with the periphery of said wheel and guided by said Han ge thereof,loosely-pivoted retaining-bolts connecting the central portion of said shoes to the periphery of said wheel with freedom for rocking movements, and reversely-extending pairs of flexible connections attached at their inner ends to said wheel, following the periphery thereof at their intermediate portions and attached at their outer ends to the opposite free ends of said shoes, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a wheel having peripheral shoe-guiding iianges, of shoes in staggered arrangement guided by said flanges, and retaining-bolts loosely pivoted to the central portions of said shoes and passed through the periphery of said wheel, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a wheel, of a series of shoes having rolling engagement with the periphery of said wheel, reversely-extending pairs of iiexible connections attached at their inner ends to said wheel, following the periphery thereof at their intermediate portions and attached at their outer ends to the opposite free ends of said shoes, and means for adjusting said flexible connections to take up slack, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a wheel having a peripheral shoe-guiding flange, of a series of shoes mounted for rolling engagement with the periphery of said wheel and guided by IOO IIO

said flange thereof, land reversely-extending Ill-testimony whereofl affix my signature -pairs of -ieXible connections adjustably atin presence of two Witnesses.

tached to said wheels at their inner ends, following the periphery thereof at their intel- WHITCOMB Lf JUDSONV. 5 mediate portions and attached at their outer Witnesses:

ends to the opposite free ends of said shoes, G. J. ATKINS,

substantially as described. A. HALEY. 

